HAGERSTOWN, MD – (March 23, 2016) – The Maryland Board of Nursing recently gave approval for Kaplan University to offer its nurse practitioner programs to students in Maryland.

In late January, the Board gave its approval for KU to offer its Adult Gerontology and Family, Post Masters and Masters nurse practitioner programs.

The approval allows KU Maryland and its campuses in Hagerstown and Rockville to begin enrolling prospective students in the nurse practitioner programs within the next month.

In anticipation of the approval, admissions and advising staff in Maryland have completed a comprehensive training program provided by the KU School of Nursing. Dr. Chandice Covington, Dean and Vice-President of the KU School of Nursing, coordinated this new approval through the KU Maryland Campuses and the Maryland Board of Nursing.

Nurse practitioners function as primary care providers of health care services and health promotion education to groups of patients and their families. They diagnose and treat patients, order tests, interpret results, prepare treatment plans, and, in many states, can prescribe medication.

Maryland became the 21st state in the nation to allow nurse practitioners to have full practice privileges. The Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority Act was signed by Gov. Larry Hogan in May 2015. The measure permits nurse practitioners to prescribe certain medications independently. In addition to being free of collaborative agreements, Maryland-based nurse practitioners would be able manage their own primary care center or clinic.

“We are very excited to be able to offer the nurse practitioner programs in Maryland,” said Maryland Campuses President Chris Motz. “More and more nursing professionals are seeking credentials that will allow them to expand their role and functions. The need for nurse practitioners is growing in all primary care settings such as private family practices, hospital based outpatient facilities, public health sites and home-based care.”

Dean Covington adds, “Kaplan University provides nurse practitioner educational options that are flexible, with online delivery and clinical opportunities near the student’s home community and a state-of-the-science, high-quality curriculum, taught by certified practicing nurse practitioner faculty.”

About Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The University, which has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago, is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. Kaplan University serves approximately 43,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 14 campuses in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, Missouri and Wisconsin, and a Kaplan University Learning Center in Maryland.

Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education LLC and Kaplan, Inc., which serves over 1.2 million students globally each year through its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education, English-language training, university preparation, and K-12 offerings to individuals, institutions, and businesses. Kaplan has operations in over 30 countries, employs more than 19,000 full- and part-time professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and over 2,600 corporations and businesses.

Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information, please visit www.kaplan.com.